On Wednesday, Braun crushed a ball off the wall in center field that caromed away from Cardinals center fielder Allen Craig in the third inning. After not hustling out of the box because he thought it was either a homer or an out, Braun flew around second and third, losing his helmet in the process before gravity took over.

This is what annoys me about baseball sometimes. Would it kill you to spend 5 seconds running at full speed until you know for sure?

SkittlesAreYum:On Wednesday, Braun crushed a ball off the wall in center field that caromed away from Cardinals center fielder Allen Craig in the third inning. After not hustling out of the box because he thought it was either a homer or an out, Braun flew around second and third, losing his helmet in the process before gravity took over.

This is what annoys me about baseball sometimes. Would it kill you to spend 5 seconds running at full speed until you know for sure?

Or you could ask Cliff Lee to run *at all*. The Not Top 10 today featured Cliff grounding out and he never even left the batter's box./integrity of the game

SkittlesAreYum:On Wednesday, Braun crushed a ball off the wall in center field that caromed away from Cardinals center fielder Allen Craig in the third inning. After not hustling out of the box because he thought it was either a homer or an out, Braun flew around second and third, losing his helmet in the process before gravity took over.

This is what annoys me about baseball sometimes. Would it kill you to spend 5 seconds running at full speed until you know for sure?

No, but they're professionals, they do this a lot. Any experienced hitter has a pretty good idea of where the ball they just hit is going. They know when it's a pop up, or a home run, or a grounder. Every now and then they misjudge. But really, these guys make what? 5 -7 plate appearances a game, and the play 28-29 days a month. If they went tearing along the base paths like their lives depended on it for every pop up and home run, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of running, and there'd end up being more injuries.I'm talking about not breaking your neck around the bases when you already know it won't matter, a pop up or home run or something. Just not trying, jogging it when the ball's still in play, and showboating Albert Pujols style after a home run, not so much.

SkittlesAreYum:On Wednesday, Braun crushed a ball off the wall in center field that caromed away from Cardinals center fielder Allen Craig in the third inning. After not hustling out of the box because he thought it was either a homer or an out, Braun flew around second and third, losing his helmet in the process before gravity took over.

This is what annoys me about baseball sometimes. Would it kill you to spend 5 seconds running at full speed until you know for sure?

Because those extra 5 seconds of full sprint would have reduced him to sprinting at the same speed as a light jog after rounding third. You have to pace it right so you are still running full-speed at the moment of truth.

Granolabar:But really, these guys make what? 5 -7 plate appearances a game, and the play 28-29 days a month. If they went tearing along the base paths like their lives depended on it for every pop up and home run, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of running, and there'd end up being more injuries.

That sounds like they'd be running full speed about 7 * 5 seconds = 35 seconds per game. Heck, I'll round it up to a full minute. A full minute of running, or half an hour of sprinting per month. Ask any player in any other sport if they think that's excessive. Heck, it isn't even a contact sport.

What really bothers me, though, is Braun assumed if it didn't go out of the park it was an out. I guess errors in the outfield never happen?

SkittlesAreYum:Granolabar: But really, these guys make what? 5 -7 plate appearances a game, and the play 28-29 days a month. If they went tearing along the base paths like their lives depended on it for every pop up and home run, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of running, and there'd end up being more injuries.

That sounds like they'd be running full speed about 7 * 5 seconds = 35 seconds per game. Heck, I'll round it up to a full minute. A full minute of running, or half an hour of sprinting per month. Ask any player in any other sport if they think that's excessive. Heck, it isn't even a contact sport.

What really bothers me, though, is Braun assumed if it didn't go out of the park it was an out. I guess errors in the outfield never happen?

I guess it depends on how far you run, I just think those unnecessary sprints can result in injury, and it's hard to see what's happening with the ball when you're running full out. I don't see anything wrong with the more cautious approach. Ryan Braun very seldom makes mistakes on the base paths. Even this time, he had plenty of time to get home, he should have slowed down. Looked like he just went a little too fast around third and lost his footing. He's lucky he wasn't hurt though.And errors in the outfield are pretty rare, most outfielders have 3 or less so far this season.http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/fielding/_/position/rf/order/true

Granolabar:No, but they're professionals, they do this a lot. Any experienced hitter has a pretty good idea of where the ball they just hit is going. They know when it's a pop up, or a home run, or a grounder. Every now and then they misjudge. But really, these guys make what? 5 -7 plate appearances a game, and the play 28-29 days a month. If they went tearing along the base paths like their lives depended on it for every pop up and home run, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of running, and there'd end up being more injuries.

Hit ball. Drop bat. Run.

You're actually suggesting this is difficult. I'd love to see some detailed figures that show that players who hit fewer HRs suffer more injuries as a result of having to run more frequently.

Yanks_RSJ:Granolabar: No, but they're professionals, they do this a lot. Any experienced hitter has a pretty good idea of where the ball they just hit is going. They know when it's a pop up, or a home run, or a grounder. Every now and then they misjudge. But really, these guys make what? 5 -7 plate appearances a game, and the play 28-29 days a month. If they went tearing along the base paths like their lives depended on it for every pop up and home run, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of running, and there'd end up being more injuries.

Hit ball. Drop bat. Run.

You're actually suggesting this is difficult. I'd love to see some detailed figures that show that players who hit fewer HRs suffer more injuries as a result of having to run more frequently.

Hit ball. Drop bat. Run. Got it. You're actually suggesting it's that easy. So go ahead. I'm sure the Yankee's will scoop you right up and you'll be in Cooperstown in no time. Hell, let's all go! Think they take women?

I could probably find you some figures showing that players who strike out all the time suffer fewer base path injuries than those who don't. It may be a small chance, but why risk it? If a player knows he hit a pop up, he's out (unless the fielding is truly incompetent). Why take any chances on an almost sure out?Braun fell because he was going too fast, he's very lucky not to have been injured. The Brewer's post season odds would be looking pretty dim if he had been.

Granolabar:I could probably find you some figures showing that players who strike out all the time suffer fewer base path injuries than those who don't. It may be a small chance, but why risk it? If a player knows he hit a pop up, he's out (unless the fielding is truly incompetent). Why take any chances on an almost sure out?

I can't imagine a scenario where players who less frequently go on base paths more frequently get injured on base paths.

Treygreen13:Granolabar: I could probably find you some figures showing that players who strike out all the time suffer fewer base path injuries than those who don't. It may be a small chance, but why risk it? If a player knows he hit a pop up, he's out (unless the fielding is truly incompetent). Why take any chances on an almost sure out?

I can't imagine a scenario where players who less frequently go on base paths more frequently get injured on base paths.

My assumption is that we've been trolled. Either that or this broad is the stupidest person alive.

Yanks_RSJ:Treygreen13: Granolabar: I could probably find you some figures showing that players who strike out all the time suffer fewer base path injuries than those who don't. It may be a small chance, but why risk it? If a player knows he hit a pop up, he's out (unless the fielding is truly incompetent). Why take any chances on an almost sure out?

I can't imagine a scenario where players who less frequently go on base paths more frequently get injured on base paths.

My assumption is that we've been trolled. Either that or this broad is the stupidest person alive.

Granolabar:Yanks_RSJ: Treygreen13: Granolabar: I could probably find you some figures showing that players who strike out all the time suffer fewer base path injuries than those who don't. It may be a small chance, but why risk it? If a player knows he hit a pop up, he's out (unless the fielding is truly incompetent). Why take any chances on an almost sure out?

I can't imagine a scenario where players who less frequently go on base paths more frequently get injured on base paths.

My assumption is that we've been trolled. Either that or this broad is the stupidest person alive.

Chances are it's a little of both.

Troll you? I would never! I love Yankees fans :)

How bout those first place Red Sox?

What's it like TRULY caring about baseball between April and September? Wake me when the playoffs start, sugar.

What's it like TRULY caring about baseball between April and September? Wake me when the playoffs start, sugar.

We have an 8 1/2 game lead. Why, I think we'll even have a good chance of beating Boston in the World Series!\btw, we're still celebrating the Packer's Superbowl victory in April. How are the Giants looking this year?

What's it like TRULY caring about baseball between April and September? Wake me when the playoffs start, sugar.

We have an 8 1/2 game lead. Why, I think we'll even have a good chance of beating Boston in the World Series!\btw, we're still celebrating the Packer's Superbowl victory in April. How are the Giants looking this year?

World Series? You realize you'll likely have to face Atlanta and Philly to even get a shot at the Sox.

What's it like TRULY caring about baseball between April and September? Wake me when the playoffs start, sugar.

We have an 8 1/2 game lead. Why, I think we'll even have a good chance of beating Boston in the World Series!\btw, we're still celebrating the Packer's Superbowl victory in April. How are the Giants looking this year?

Well jeez, you're still celebrating? Did you get to go to the Super Bowl for free? Because I did. Pretty cool, too.

What's it like TRULY caring about baseball between April and September? Wake me when the playoffs start, sugar.

We have an 8 1/2 game lead. Why, I think we'll even have a good chance of beating Boston in the World Series!\btw, we're still celebrating the Packer's Superbowl victory in April. How are the Giants looking this year?

Well jeez, you're still celebrating? Did you get to go to the Super Bowl for free? Because I did. Pretty cool, too.

Jesus CHRIST are you people missing the point- the play in question was FUNNY. Braun, if you watch the replays, was smiling as he fell. Almost everyone in the stadium, players and fans alike, were CRYING they were laughing so hard.

It's a light-hearted occurence and you basement-dwellers are arguing about Pujols' size and who's team has a bigger lead in the standings. FARK- get over yourselves and laugh a little. CHRIST.